Aircraft Control Lever Linkage for Symmetrical Force Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aircraft flight control devices face challenges in providing symmetrical force feedback when the control lever is inclined about the roll axis, requiring oversized motors and complex servocontrol systems to mitigate coupling issues between pitch and roll axes.
Innovation Solution
The flight control device features a unique configuration with multiple pivot axes and connection mechanisms, including Cardan joints, to decouple control movements about the roll and pitch axes, allowing symmetrical force feedback without the need for additional servocontrol, enabling a passive and mechanical redundant emergency system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If control motors are used to assist pilot control, then control effort is reduced, but force feedback symmetry deteriorates when lever is inclined about roll axis
Solution Approach 1:
The control system is segmented into two independent sets of motors: first control motors for rolling movement and second control motors for pitching movement. This segmentation allows each motor set to independently control its respective axis without interference, eliminating the coupling effect that causes asymmetric force feedback when the lever is inclined about the roll axis.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces a dimensional separation by associating different motors with different rotational axes (roll axis vs. pitch axis). The first control motors are associated with rolling movement about the roll axis, while second control motors are associated with pitching movement about the pitch axis, creating orthogonal independence in the control architecture.
2Manufacturing precision
If servocontrol is implemented to achieve symmetrical force feedback, then force symmetry improves, but device complexity and motor size increase
Solution Approach 1:
The control system is divided into independent motor groups for different axes, with each group managing only its designated axis. This eliminates the need for complex cross-axis servocontrol algorithms and reduces overall system complexity while maintaining force feedback symmetry.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using complex servocontrol to compensate for coupling effects, the invention inverts the approach by designing the mechanical connection architecture to inherently prevent coupling between axes. The control lever is mechanically connected such that rolling and pitching movements are decoupled at the structural level, making complex servocontrol unnecessary.
3Device complexity
If direct mechanical connection is used between lever and control members, then device complexity is reduced, but control precision deteriorates due to lack of force feedback
Solution Approach 1:
Control motors are introduced as intermediary elements between the control lever and the control surfaces. These motors provide assisted control while maintaining a mechanical connection that preserves force feedback, achieving a balance between control precision and device complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention provides a device comprising a control lever associated with a body carrying a first plate connected to the body, a second plate connected to the first plate with the control lever being connected to the second plate, a first transmission shaft pivotally mounted relative to the body, a first connection mechanism connecting the control lever to the first transmission shaft in such a manner that pivoting of the control lever about the first axis causes the first shaft to pivot about the fourth axis, a second transmission shaft pivotally mounted relative to the body, a second connection mechanism connecting the control lever to the second transmission shaft in such a manner that pivoting of the control lever about the second axis causes the second shaft to pivot about the sixth axis, and a platform connected to the body, the second connection mechanism being pivotally mounted on the platform and being pivotally mounted on the control lever.